Get my CTA U-Pass

Students who enroll full-time in college credit courses are eligible to receive a U-Pass, which offers unlimited rides on any CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) bus or train.

Full Description

The VentraU-Pass offers full-time students unlimited rides on any CTA bus or train during an academic term. Below, you’ll find some general information to help you become familiar with your new Ventra U-Pass.

With the new Ventra card, you will no longer need to obtain a new U-Pass every semester.

Your U-Pass is good for five years, and your transit account will stay active when you are not in school.

As long as you are enrolled as a full-time student (6+ credit hours for Summer, 12+ credit hours for Fall/Spring), your U-Pass privileges will be loaded onto your card automatically.

U-Pass privileges are not valid on Pace buses. You must pay a full fare to ride Pace buses.

You can add value to the Ventra card when school is not in session or when you do not qualify as a full-time student. Full fare passes and transit value for the CTA and Pace can be added online or by phone, at Ventra vending machines, and at all participating Ventra retail locations.​

Using Your U-Pass Between Semesters

​​While your U-Pass allows free CTA rides during the semester, you will need to add funds to your Ventra account in order to use it when classes are not in session.

Beginning Monday, May 11, 2015, you will need to add funds to your card to continue to use it during the break. If you are enrolled full-time in the Summer semester, the U-Pass function on your Ventra Card will automatically reactivate on Wednesday, June 3, 2015, the first day of class. You must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours to be considered a full-time student in the Summer semester.

One of the benefits of the Ventra Card is that you can continue to use it during the time between semesters, but in order to do so you will need to add funds to your Ventra account. You can load transit value to your card:

When using the Ventra U-Pass between semesters or when you are not enrolled full-time, please make sure you maintain a positive balance by adding funds to your card. If you do not maintain a positive balance, the

U-Pass function on your Ventra Card (which grants you unlimited rides) will not reactivate on the first day of the semester until you have paid off your balance.

Rules and Conditions

U-Pass is limited to exclusive use by the original full-time student card owner. Your U-Pass may not be shared. If any conditions are violated, the pass will be confiscated for the remaining term without reimbursement.

Lost, Damaged, or Stolen Cards

If your pass is lost or stolen, you may request a new card through the Business Office at your college. You must present your City Colleges ID and pay a $50 non-refundable replacement fee. You will receive notification through your City Colleges email account when your card has arrived.

City Colleges of Chicago does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age or disability in all educational
and vocational programs, services, activities, and employment. EEO Office